| Just as you get your irons fitted before you buy | | | | ball gets in the air. About four degrees is right. If you |
| them, and you get your driver fitted, buy a fitted | | | | forward press when you putt, six or seven degrees |
| putter. Precise putting requires that you have an | | | | will do. |
| instrument that is right for you. | | | | How much does the putter weigh? Too heavy and it |
| The first consideration in buying a putter is length. It | | | | might be hard to acquire a delicate feel for the |
| should fit right in your hands when you take your | | | | stroke. Same for too light. The weight should make |
| habitual putting stance. A putter that is too short | | | | the putter feel like and extension of your own arms. |
| might make you bend over more than you want to, | | | | Putters have balance built into them. If you balance a |
| or extend your arms more than you want to. A | | | | putter on the shaft with one finger, either the toe |
| putter that is too long can cramp your stroke. | | | | will point straight to the ground, or the face of the |
| Some people prefer a longer putter because by not | | | | putter will point to the sky, horizontal to the ground. |
| bending over so much, they don't hurt heir back. | | | | Golfers whose putting stroke is an arc should choose |
| Instead, change the way you practice by standing up | | | | the first style, and golfers who take the putter back |
| after every putt and walking to a different spot to | | | | and through straight should choose the second. If the |
| hit the next one. Also, bending from your hips, not | | | | putter does not align itself in one of these two |
| from your waist, puts less stress on your back. | | | | directions, but somewhere in between, reject it. |
| The next consideration is lie angle. This is the angle | | | | Check the face alignment. Most putter grips have a |
| the sole of the putter makes with the shaft. When | | | | flat surface in front, to help you take the right grip. |
| you take your normal stance, the sole will lie flat on | | | | Hold the putter up and sight down the shaft like a |
| the ground if this angle is correct. If this angle is | | | | gun, checking the angle of the putterface against the |
| wrong, it will be difficult to hit the ball solidly, and you | | | | flat part of the grip. You must see a right angle. If |
| could scrape the putter against the ground during | | | | not, have it adjusted. |
| your stroke. | | | | Finally, get a putter with an appearance that you like. |
| Putters have loft. Not much, but enough to make a | | | | This matters more than you might think. Comfort |
| difference. Too little loft and you drive the ball into | | | | with its appearance gives you confidence when you |
| the ground instead of rolling it. Too much loft and the | | | | use it. |